Chez2

31 minutes ago, angie7911922 said:

I am so jealous. This is still on my bucket list.

I do know about the info page http://www.aurora-service.eu/aurora-forecast/ good luck!

Angie, I hope you get to tick this item off your bucket list.  We did a cruise that did 3 stops in iceland, and then several stops in norway.  We went to the blue lagoon, that would be a perfect place to see the lights, sat in a 40 degree hot spring.  Unfortunately it was day time for us, but still worth going.

Thank you for the above link, I will be having a daily look at that I'm sure a few weeks before we go  x

On 10/2/2019 at 10:24 AM, kaisatsu said:

You definitely won't find a bunch of tour operators hanging around the dock looking for cruise passengers. Otherwise, the number and availability will vary a lot based on which ports you're visiting. In some popular Northern Lights destinations, you may be able to find some from the local tourist info on the day, but it's not a guarantee.

 

However, the style of Northern Lights tours vary a lot. There are big bus tours, small van tours, Arctic outdoor camps, etc... As mentioned above, the best Northern Lights tours will cancel themselves if the weather is hopeless. But several also keep active tabs on the weather and know of places nearby that can have clearer skies due to microclimates.

 

I would definitely look into booking something in advance and checking their bad-weather policies.

 

But keep in mind that even with a tour, it's still not a given that you will see them. First and foremost, you need a clear patch of sky. But even on a clear day with an especially high KP index, there's no guarantee. I've been out hunting on a night with an extremely high KP index, and our guide found a clear spot. But we just didn't get lucky. Another time we were just wandering around town in Tromsø, and there they were, strong enough to be seen over the city lights. You just never know.

Thank you for all the information you have given me, it is of great help.  I am looking at the big bus tour, says its a 5 min walk from the port.  I did see one that offered a £50 back if they didnt see the lights.  That must have been very special when they just appeared over tromso.   What time of year did you go.  x

We have only done norway in the summer before.

On 10/1/2019 at 8:12 AM, hallasm said:

Not that many tour provides - do not know which port.

Since the highlight of your cruise is Norther Lights I would book a tour - likely to sell out.

If the weather will be very bad, they will cancel the tour - otherwise those tour operators are quite good in finding spots with clear skies. 

Northern Lights are never guaranteed- might be a day wi( low activity.

You might also be lucky to see the lights from the ship - I did a cruise and saw the lights three times when sailing - picture from the bow of the ship when sailing.

Thanks you so much for responding to my question, sorry not had chance to get online for the last few days.  We are going to both tromso and narvik, stopping 1 night in each place.  I am assuming tromso will be a better place to see them as it is a little highier up the coast.    It would be great if we could see them from the ship like you did, you was very lucky.  Was it a long display you saw. what time of year did you go.  

Hi we’re going up to the northern lights in November. Our cruise has 2 lots of tours going out from the ship for £85. They are completely booked already. 

‘’So my question is will there be any independent trips on the day when we get off ship (like say Rome or the Caribbean) I don’t really want to book an independent now as the weather might not be good.  

We we have a night in narvik too. 

‘Thanks for any info 

Thank you for your very quick response to my question 

Here in the uk we just pay one insurance company, that covers both current health problems & also if you have become ill with one of them or any other illness.  I would no doubt be transferred to one of the two centres in Clearwater & I think the other main one is Jacksonville if it was to do with my transplant.  

Sorry I have not been able to come online for a week or so as had my 2nd cataracts removed.

Thank you both for your replies 

The Juggler I have never had to claim on my insurance before for any of my 'health problems'   yes it would cost a lot to airlift to the mainland I know.  I'm not sure how much florida would be this year, but it is normally around that price when I go.  

Yorkshire Phil

I am 56, the ones I have tried were for pre existing conditions, I am assuming it will be my lung transplant that is causing the high quote.  Just wondered if the Caribbean is generally more expensive than the mainland.

Thanks again guys  

Hi I’m from the uk & i have or existing medical  conditions. Cystic fibrosis since birth, 5 years post double lung transplant, 3 years post thyroid cancer & removal of my thyroid & insulin diabetic since 1999, well controlled.  I am well though despite what I have. 

 

I have tried 4 places so far they are all over £1200.  I was I was in Florida in may 2018 for two weeks & it was only £120 for both my husband & I.   I asked why it was so much & she said it could be more people have claimed on their insurance than people who went to Florida.  I am wondering if it has anything to do with all the bad weather they’ve had in the Caribbean. 

 

Thanks for any info on how much you have paid to go round the Caribbean this year with pre existing condition would be so helpful.   

Thanks you for your replies, I just had my second cataracts done so was unable to get on line for a week or so.  

Have a good christmas x

Hi I have or existing conditions. Cystic fibrosis, 5 years post double lung transplant, 3 years post thyroid cancer & removal of my thyroid & insulin diabetic.  I am well though despite what I have. 

I have tried 4 places so far they are all over £1200.  I was I was in Florida in may 2018 for two weeks & it was only £120 for both my husband & I.   I asked why it was so much & she said it could be more people have claimed on their insurance than people who went to Florida.  I am wondering if it has anything to do with all the bad weather they’ve had in the Caribbean. 

Thanks for any info. 

Hi, could you please advise the best way to get a shuttle from the airport to the cruise port in San Pedro to go on a princess cruise.  We are not bothered about being having it to ourselves.  Is there like a mini bus service.  If so can you give me an idea of the price & a rough idea how long it would take to fill up   A taxi I believe is about $60-80 dollars.  

We are actually having 3 days in vegas pre cruise, so not sure what time we would get into LAX, but we would be travelling up the day before the cruise.  

Thanking you in advance.  

Hi can anyone advise me the price of getting a taxi from the port in Madeira up to the tropical gardens. There is 4 of us, so not sure if it will be cheaper to get return in a taxi or go on the local bus.

Also which gardens did you prefer.

Thanking you in advance.

We have done Qsine before & can not wait to go again. Would it be busy on a chic night, or is it the same through out the cruise.

We were on the first cruise out of the uk on the Eclipse, it was very busy because it was a brand new experience. Is that still the case now.

I read on cc that sometimes if they are not busy they offer discounts.

:;-)

Hi, was just wondering if they may offer upgrades when we book in at Southampton. We are booked on the Eclipse on the 18th October 2017, but it is a school holiday week. We have never done an upgrade before as we usually have a balcony, but they were over a £1,000 extra each when we booked. Got this cabin for £919, they are £1.200 atm.

Thanks in advance.

:-)

Thank you all for your replies & thank you fpr the photo of the cabin Gerelmx, I am a happy woman now.

:-)

Hi has anyone had cabin no 7148, inside cabin on the Eclipse It is on the other side of the lift shaft, will it be noisy with the lift going up & down.

Thank you for any info

https://www.icruise.com/cabins/celebrity-cruises-cruises-celebrity-eclipse-cabin-7148.html

Thank you so much for all that very useful info, I will take your advice & go up to the Monte one instead as my friends love gardening & vising gardening centres at home, I am sure it will be better than any garden centre in the uk lol I saw on another thread that you can not send private message to another cc member, so thank you for answering my thread. x

we are going in the middle of october, if you go to the gardens you will have to let me know what you thought of them. I'm also looking to the ones at the top of the cable car, but planning on going via the local bus. I believe it doesnt take too long. But my friend is not into cable cars or basket rides down. They were both good fun last time we was there.

Thankfully I'm not in my wheelchair now, since my double lung transplant, but its hard work getting round with a chair sometimes in these ports with narrow & uneven & very crowded paths in these ports, but somehow we make it lol & dont let it hold us back. x

Whoops forgot to add the thread, I'm useless on Cruise critic lol

http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2416626

:0)

Sorry to intrude on your thread ladies & gentleman.

A message for Tring, I sent a message on a cruise you was on last year to Madeira re the local bus up to the Gardens. I am not sure if you will see that now as it was last year. I have never had to contact anyone direct before & hoped that if I sent you a friend request it would allow me type a little message but it didnt.

This is the line to the thread if you have two mins spare to look at it. Thank you.

:-)

Tring, I am just looking at doing our own thing & going up to the gardens. We have done the cable car & the basket run last time we was there, but did not have time for the gardens.

How did you get on with using the local busses.

Just starting to plan now for October.

Thank you

:-)

Hi Happytravelleruk I was looking on google maps yesterday & saw there was a very nice park very near the port entrance. By the looks of it too there a some shops not too far away. Maybe just enough to see there. have a good time, when do you go :-)

Parque de Santa Catarina

Hi we are on a cruise in October, can anyone help me with getting a bus up to the Botanical gardens from near the port. We have done the cable car & basket run before but did not have time to do the gardens at the top.

I far as I can see we need the bus no 31, but hubby found a no 12 I think it was. Which is the quickest way up. Any any idea of the cost. We like to do our own thing when we are in port.

Was thinking about the on hop bus, but we do not get there till mid day & leave at 3pm the next, we are travelling with my best friend & her hubby, this will be the first time she has been abroad somewhere warm, not sure how she will cope with the heat & sitting on a bus for 2 hours or so might not be good for her. Plus this is our first stop, travelling from southampton..

Thank you for any suggestions. :-)

I had both distilled water for drinking with my anti rejection drugs twice a day, post transplant and we havent to drink water that is kept in large tanks like hotels etc. & there was a mini sharps bin in the cabin when I arrived. The cabin steward even noticed my very large bottle was getting low & brought me another one. I didnt have to pay was on RCL Explorer of the seas. Enjoy your holiday. x

Oh I forgot to say if you are taking any cylinders, when I took a few, just in case my oxy concentrator failed, they kept them in storage somewhere, so I didnt have to keep them in the cabin. Are you hiring or taking your own supply from home. x